Auxiliary aiming device

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary aiming device for a naval emplacement, comprises an articulated platform ( 20 ) carrying a turret ( 11 ) and able to be commanded to recline by a predetermined angle.

The present invention concerns an auxiliary aiming device.

In particular, the present invention concerns an auxiliary aiming deviceintended for installation on mobile or fixed naval or land airplatforms, for turrets of gun groups of various calibre, water cannons,cannons for other fluids or optical or electromagnetic devices orsensors such as optronic or radar systems. In particular, it is knownthat on ships, be they warships, merchant ships, or ships intended forfishing or scientific expeditions, emplacements are installed that,according to the use of the ship, carry gun groups like guns, cannons ormachine guns in the case of warships or in any case in naval services,or else fire hydrants, and/or optical detection or display devices.

The aforementioned devices require manual or automated aiming to aim,according to the case the shot, the optics or the detector, towards atarget.

With reference purely as an example to a turret carrying a gun group,the electronics applied to ballistics has made it possible to improveand optimise the control of shooting in terms of automation of thepreparation of the piece and its loading or in the acquisition of thetarget and in its continuous tracking.

Turrets are also made equipped with sophisticated movements and providedwith mechanisms that allow the gun group to have even negativeelevation, usually of a few degrees from the horizontal, so as to allowthe trajectory of the projectile to be lowered during firing, in orderto strike nearby targets.

Therefore, in the state of the art, systems for protecting the areaclose to the ship arms are known, based upon particularly widetraversing and elevation commands, however such systems do not allow thearea directly alongside to be swept, meaning that the protection fromsudden attacks through small fast boats must always be left to armedmotor boats.

It can be understood how the reaction and preparation times of a motorboat in the case of attack, but the same goes for a fire that suddenlydamages the outer hull, do not allow safe operation nor effectiveprevention of the damaging event.

Despite the aforementioned improvements it is not therefore possible toprotect the area alongside extending for a few tens of metres from thehull of the ship with turrets that are currently known.

Such a requirement with regard to the military ships in service hasarisen to protect the ship and its company from possible terroristattacks aimed at the hull by fast crafts.

More generally, there is a need to be able to directly intervene on thehull or in its immediate vicinity with means located on board.

Also worth noting is the possibility of detecting events in theimmediate vicinity of the hull or of spraying water on the side of theship through fire hydrant cannons in the case of accidents, just toquote a few examples.

The Applicant has set itself the problem of how to effectively protectthe area alongside a ship through turrets or emplacements installed onboard the ship itself, in particular the Applicant has set itself theproblem of how to strike possible threats, even alongside the ship, withconventional gun groups, or that of allowing the alongside area to besprayed with water, when a hydrant is installed.

The Applicant has been able to solve such a problem through an auxiliaryaiming device capable of modifying the aiming elevation of a turretcarrying a gun group or a hydrant or a detection device intended to beaimed.

These and other purposes according to the present invention areaccomplished by an auxiliary aiming device according to what has beenoutlined in claim 1. Further characteristics of the invention form theobject of the dependent claims.

The object of the patent therefore consists of an auxiliary devicesuitable for modifying the aiming elevation of the turret, to allow thegun group, or the hydrant or the cannon, or the sensor(s), or in generalthe firing or detection means arranged on the turret, to be aligned witha reference or target to be dealt with alongside the ship, the devicebeing made through a platform that can be articulated able to becommanded to recline by a predetermined angle.

Such a reclining platform, depending upon the requirements ofapplication, can also be equipped with an axial lifting system thatlifts its active part so as to pass over possible obstacles orstructures that might lie between it and the object being aimed at ordetected.

The characteristics and advantages of the device according to thepresent invention shall become clearer from the following description,given as a non-limiting example, of an embodiment of the invention withreference to the attached figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a ship carrying a turretequipped with the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the turret of FIG. 1 enlarged;

FIG. 3 a is a perspective view of the turret equipped with the deviceaccording to the invention;

FIGS. 3 b and 3 c illustrate the turret of FIG. 3 a in side elevationview and front view respectively;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the turret with the device according to theinvention in extended position in side elevation and in perspectiveview, respectively;

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate the turret mounted on a ship withthe device according to the invention in extended position from behindin elevation and in perspective view, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention inretracted position.

FIG. 9 is a side section view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view from above of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the device according to the inventionin extended position.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a different embodiment of the deviceaccording to the invention in partially extended position;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of a further different embodiment ofthe device according to the invention in partially extended position.

With reference to the figures, an emplacement 10 is installed near to aside of the hull, generically indicated with 2 or the stern or bow of aship 1.

In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates the device, arranged in a housingsuitable for protecting it when it is not operating, which is arrangedclose to the outer edge of the ship so as to be able to be orientateddownwards with an angle such as to cover the spaces below.

FIG. 2 illustrates the turret of FIG. 1 enlarged, in which the devicecan be seen in open position in the housing and the turret is orientateddownwards.

The emplacement 10 is shown as an example as a gun group emplacement,however its function can be of whatever type where it is necessary toaim in the direction of a target.

In particular but not exclusively, the emplacement comprises a turretcarrying gun groups like guns, cannons or machine guns in the case ofwarships or in any case naval services, or else fire hydrants, and/oroptical detection or display devices.

In the present description reference shall be made to an emplacement 10carrying a turret 11 for a gun group 12 housed in a chamber 16 that canbe closed to protect the mechanisms of the turret from exposure toweather conditions.

The turret is equipped with spaces 13 that can be closed through hatches14 for housing devices and munitions 15.

The turret can also be accessed in the chamber 16 by service personnelfor loading and maintenance.

The turret is therefore autonomously equipped with and/or connected toelectromagnetic and hydraulic mechanical devices that allow it tooperate automatically, the gun group mounted on the turret beingarranged to simultaneously perform traversing and elevation for aiming.

In particular, the primary elevation of the gun group can provide a fewtens of degrees above the horizontal, and a few degrees, about 10-15degrees, below the horizontal for firing nearby.

In order to allow the gun group or in general the apparatus mounted inthe emplacement 10 to be aimed, the turret is foreseen mounted on aplatform 20 making the auxiliary aiming device.

The platform 20 comprises a base plate 21 directly fixed, or slidablyconnected through rails, to the deck of the ship.

A support plate 22, carrying the turret 11 mounted through cooperationwith cross members 32 firmly attached to the support plate, isarticulated on said base in a first hinge 23.

The platform 20 is articulated and able to be commanded to recline by apredetermined angle thanks to the fact that between said plates 11,12elevation means are foreseen suitable for reclining the support plate 22about said first hinge 23 by a predetermined angle of between 0° and110° and preferably between 0° and 90°. The elevation mechanism of thesupport plate 22 foresees a first arm 24 articulated to the base platethrough a second hinge 26 arranged substantially at the end of the baseplate opposite the first hinge 23.

A second arm 25 is in turn articulated to the support plate 22substantially at the end of the support plate opposite the first hinge23, the two arms 24,25 being articulated together in a fourth hinge 30.

Between the first hinge 23 and the fourth hinge 30 commandable thrustingmeans 28,29 are arranged exemplified in the present embodiment withcylinder 28 connected to the hinge 23, or as an alternative to the baseplate 21, and stem 29 connected to the fourth hinge 30.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 the turret with the deviceaccording to the invention in extended position are respectivelyillustrated in side elevation and in a perspective view, in this casethe system being in the rotated position, i.e. the device is in openposition with the two moving arms (details 24 and 25 of FIGS. 4 and 5)in practically aligned position; this open position, with the turretthus rotated is achieved through the thrusting cylinder 28 and thepiston 29 that moves the two moving arms from closed position to openposition.

The aforementioned commandable means are connected to a processing unitthat, as well as the various steps for preparing to fire, takes chargeof commanding and synchronising both the elevation and the traversing toallow continuous tracking of the target acquiring data from possibledetectors present on the turret so as to obtain the correction of aimthrough feedback.

In particular with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 the firing line T when theauxiliary aiming device is operative must continually be corrected bythe primary elevation and/or traversing of the gun group to be able tobe kept on the target.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 the turret mounted on a ship with thedevice according to the invention in extended position are schematicallyshown from behind in elevation and in a perspective view, respectively.From this extended position of the device, i.e. with the plane of theturret rotated, it is possible to aim at a position close to the side ofthe ship so as to cover such an area.

With reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 it can be seen how the auxiliary aimingdevice, with stem 29 retracted in the cylinder 28, allows the platform20 to be closed with the two plates 21 and 22 pulled into contact by thearms 24 and 25.

It is thus possible to see the parts that make the system move, theplane 22 on which the turret or other system to be positioned can bearranged, the hinge 23 on which the rotation of the plane of the turrettakes place, the arms 25 and 24 that, commanded by the cylinder 28 andpiston 29, carry out the rotation from retracted to open.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the device according to the inventionin extended position in which the main parts of the device arehighlighted, which are: the base 21 suitable for supporting all of themoving parts and for interfacing the base on which the entire devicemust be anchored, the mobile part 22 that takes the possible turret intorotation, the arms 24 and 25 suitable for taking the rotating part 22into rotation commanded by the actuator (electrical, mechanical ormanual) 28.

A different embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 13, sucha representation highlighting an actuator (mechanical manual, hydraulicor electromechanical) directly connected to the rotating part of thedevice, without the intermediation of the arms (details 24 and 25) ofthe previous representations.

In order to give greater inclination to the support plate 22, elevationmeans are made applied directly between the two plates, for example atleast one cylinder 28′ articulated in a hinge 31 arranged in the baseplate in a position substantially opposite the articulation hinge 23between the plates, and a stem 29′ coming out from the cylinder 28′articulated to the support plate in a hinge 30′ possibly able to slide.

With reference to FIG. 14, a different embodiment of the inventionforesees a moving system directly acting upon the rotation axis of themobile platform 22, such an actuator (mechanical manual, hydraulic orelectromechanical) being able to be of the irreversible type so thatonce positioned the rotating part 22 remains blocked in position.

In such an embodiment a geared motor 33 fixed to the base plate 21 isequipped with a worm screw 34 engaged with a gear wheel 35 that ismounted on the articulation hinge 23 between the plates 21,22, the gearwheel 35 being firmly attached to the support plate 22.

The commanded rotation of the geared motor allows the elevation withoutlimitations of the support plate.

In this way angles between the plates of over 90° even up to 110° can bereached, except for technological and functional restrictions made tothe rotation.

Through such a last embodiment it is possible to strike targets even incontact with the hull 2 or to spray water on the hull itself in the casein which the emplacement 10 carries a hydrant.

The various illustrated embodiments as stated also lend themselves tothe installation of optical detection systems like diurnal systems,infrared systems, light intensification systems or laser telemetrysystems.

In the case of possibility of extreme elevations like in the thirdpresented embodiment, electronic and mechanical aiming and firinglimiters are also foreseen to prevent the gun group from being able tohit the hull.

1. Auxiliary aiming device for a naval emplacement, characterised inthat said device comprises an articulated platform (20) carrying aturret (11) and able to be commanded to recline by an angle that can bepredetermined.
 2. Auxiliary aiming device according to claim 1, whereinsaid turret carries gun groups like guns, cannons, or machine guns, orelse fire hydrants, and/or optical detection or display devices likediurnal systems, infrared systems, light intensification systems orlaser telemetry systems.
 3. Auxiliary aiming device according to claim1, wherein said platform comprises a base plate (21) directly fixed, orslidably connected through rails, to the deck of a ship (1), a supportplate (22) carrying the turret (11) being articulated onto said baseplate (21) in a first hinge (23), elevation means being foreseen betweensaid plates (11,12) suitable for flipping back the support plate (22)about said first hinge (23) by a predetermined angle of between 0° and110° and preferably between 0° and 90°.
 4. Auxiliary aiming deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the elevation mechanism of the supportplate (22) foresees a first arm (24) articulated to the base platethrough a second hinge (26) arranged substantially at the end of thebase plate opposite the first hinge (23), a second arm (25) is in turnarticulated to the support plate (22) substantially at the end of thesupport plate opposite the first hinge (23), the two arms (24,25) beingarticulated to each other in a fourth hinge (30), commandable thrustingmeans (28,29) in the form of a cylinder (28) connected to the hinge(23), and a stem (29) connected to the fourth hinge (30) being arrangedbetween the first hinge (23) and the fourth hinge (30).
 5. Auxiliaryaiming device according to claim 3, wherein elevation means are applieddirectly between the two plates (11,12), through at least one cylinder(28′) articulated in a hinge (31) arranged in the base plate in aposition substantially opposite the articulation hinge (23) between theplates, and a stem (29′) coming out from the cylinder (28′) articulatedto the support plate in a hinge (30′) possibly able to slide. 6.Auxiliary aiming device according to claim 3, wherein elevation meanscomprise a geared motor (33) fixed to the base plate (21) and equippedwith a worm screw (34) engaged with a gear wheel (35) mounted firmly onthe support plate (22) on the articulation hinge (23) between the plates(21,22).